Ghost joins us, a toothpick between his teeth. “Concerned citizens with a shitload of surveillance equipment and a perfectly orchestrated plan.”
“Potato, potahto,” I say, echoing Victoria’s words from what feels like a lifetime ago.
Bear approaches, his massive frame blocking out the rising sun. “Marcus would be proud, Pres.”
Something tightens in my chest. I nod, tightening my arm around Victoria, and she smiles up at me.
Because he would.
He would have fucking loved this.
Maria walks over after securing Rourke in the patrol car. She looks at me, really looks at me, and for a moment, I see past the Chief Detective to the woman who used to tuck me in at night, who used to promise me everything would be okay. “You did well, Diesel,” she says quietly.
“Wedid well,” I correct. “Allof us.”
She glances at Victoria, then back to me, a knowing look in her eyes. “Yeah… we did.”
As the sun rises over Las Vegas, its golden glow makes the day feel more beautiful than I’ve ever seen, and I watch the patrol cars drive away with Rourke in custody.
The Alliance is broken.
The truth is out there for everyone to see.
Marcus finally has justice.
And for the first time in years, the weight on my shoulders feels just a little bit lighter.
I flip my poker chip one more time, the morning light catching the red and white stripes.
Then I look at Victoria, at my brothers, at my mother.
My family.
“Come on,” I say, slipping the chip back into my pocket. “Let’s go celebrate.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
VICTORIA
The Next Day
The dust has finally settled, and I stand in Maria’s office, watching the news coverage on the screen mounted to her wall. Captain Victor Rourke, a criminal, walked in handcuffs, his face a mask of fury and disbelief as the headline scrolls across the bottom of the screen…
Massive Police Corruption Scandal Rocks LVPD—Captain Arrested in Connection with Criminal Enterprise.
Internal Affairs has descended on the department like a swarm of locusts, investigating everyone who ever shook Rourke’s hand. More corrupt officers are being identified and arrested daily. The Hidden Hand Alliance leadership is facing federal charges that will keep them locked up for decades.
And the Las Vegas Defiance MC?
Cleared of any wrongdoing.
Maria made damn sure of that.
“The Commissioner wants to see me,” Maria says, pulling my attention from the screen. She’s leaning against her desk, arms crossed, but there’s something different in her posture. Lighter. “Apparently,I’mbeing promoted to captain in Rourke’s place. Go figure!”
A grin splits my face. “That’s amazing, Maria.”
But Maria’s expression turns serious, and my smile fades like smoke. “Which means we need to talk aboutyou.”
